Mechanical pencil



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1945 www@ May 10, 1949 J. J. RoBBlNs2,469,411

MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed NOV. l5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10,1949 MECHANICAL PENCIL Jesse J. Robbins, Glendale, Calif., assignor toStylofede Corporation, Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California`Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,063

17 Claims. 1

My invention relates rto :pencils and more particularly t-o themechanical type of pencil whereby when the lead is broken or used np, itcan be replaced, and when worn can be extended to provide asatisfactory'writing point.

I-Ieretofore7 in a mechanica-l pencil of the usual type wherein theleadpoint has been worn down, to provide a fresh writing point it isnecessary to remove the pencil from the writingposition, turn in somemanner a portion of the pencil with the non-writing hand and .return thesaid pencil to a writing position. Moreover, when the lead of such apencil has been used up, it has eeen found necessary to disassemble thesaid pencil, retrieving anew piece of lead from the storage place in thesaid pencil, set the said lead into the end ofthe pencil .and readjustthe lead to provide a new writing point. It is apparent that in theabove operations, considerable loss of time is occasioned in addition tothe dirtying of the hands, the possible dropping of the lead in thefilling operation and the diiiiculties attendant upon proper insertionof the lead into a cooperating position within the pencil.

My object in this invention is to provide a mechanical pencil obviatingthe above difliculties by iirst incorporating a feed mechanism withinthe pencil which enables the writer to refresh the lead point of thepencil by the mere expedient of pressing the pencil point upon thewriting surface, said pressing being competent to cause an extending ofthe lead from the pencil to provide a writing point, and second,constructing my pencil so that upon the using up of the piece of leadbeing .used for Writing, an automatic gravity feeding of the lead isaccomplished whereby lead moveslgravitationally from the storagecompartment of the pencil into the feed mechanism of the pencil and .isthereby positioned for extension to provide a writing point in themanner .previously described.

Previous to-this time, I have devised a pencil providing an automaticfeed of leadfrom a storage compartment to-a feeding mechanism `and haveprovided the said feeding mechanism ,to extend the lead to a fresh pointupon the pressing of the pencil point against the writing surface. Sucha pencil is disclosedin my United States Letters Patent No. 2,056,143-ofSeptember 29, 1936. My present .invention is `an improvement upon thatpencil and particularly renders anyrotationiofvone element 'of the saidpencil inrespect to anotherunnecessary in order to replenish thelead .inthe feedingmechanism.

Also, my new pencil provides in the `feeding mechanism .a.novelarrangement of elements resulting .in a positive gripping of thelead and minimizing possible slippage of the lead in said feedingmechanism following .from long use of the pencil and consequent wearingof its parts. Other objects .and advantages .of this invention it isbelieved will be apparent from the .following detailed .description of a.preferred embodiment thereof -as illustrated `in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a .side view of my pencil and .of the case enclosingthesame; and

Fig. 2 is across section takenthrough the longitudinal laxis of `mypencil showing the feeding mechanism in its ordinary writing position;and

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the longitudinal `axis iof mypencil showing the feeding mechanism in the position it assumes uponpressing the pencil `against the Writing surface `during the leadlpointextending operation; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along the line Irl- 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded View of a'portion of the L, feeding -mechanism ofmy pencil; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged .longitudinal cross section of .my pencil takenonthe line 6--6 of Fig. 2 showing the ylead ingripped position, and

Fig. '7 is .an enlarged longitudinal cross section of my pencil taken onthe line l--l of Fig. 3 showing .the .lead free to gravitate or dropduring the lead extending operation.

Referring to the drawings of my pencil with its `feed mechanism inWriting position, the upper part l of my pencil, comprising clip, eraserandthe like, is threaded to screw over the housing .2, which :itself isthreaded and which has about its threaded end the threaded collar 3. The.housing 2 has its lower end 4 interiorly threaded :to receive thethreaded bushing 5, `the threaded bushing 5 being threaded at its lowerend to ,carry thereon the tapered head 6, the upper end l of rwhich islikewise interiorly threaded.

`.Sliding within the bushing 5 is the tube .8 which, at its lower end 9,is exteriorly threaded to .carry the lpencil point housing IU. The pointhousing I0 has `as apart thereof the flange l2, against which abuts thecompression'spring lA, the-otherend of said compression spring I4abuttingagainsta shoulder at the end I6 of the axial bore ,l8.in.thebushing. Thus, the point housing 'Ill -is carried threadably on the tube'8 in slidable relationship .to Athe tapered head 6 .and the compressionspring I4 is interposed between the said .LlJoint housing Il) :and thebushing 5.

3 Likewise, by virtue of its threadable connection with the pointhousing Il), the tube 8 is not only slidable With relation to thebushing 5, but is also connected therewith through the compressionspring I4.

Adjacent its lower end 9, the tube 8 has the flange 26 which forms ashoulder against which the point housing I6 abuts, and above this theoutside diameter of the said tube 8 is increased at 22 to form theslidable fit within the bushing 5. The uppermost end 24 of the tube 8 isflattened and squared and has drilled therein the bores 26 which receivethe stub shafts 28. Pivotally mounted at their center points on the saidstub shafts 23 are the levers 36.

At one of their extremities the levers 30 are bored to receive the shaft32 which carries rotatably the bifurcated link 34. The bifurcatedlink34, at its lower extremities, pivotally connects to the bushing 5 by thestub shafts 36. At their other extremities the levers 30 are bored toreceive the shaft `38 which rotatably carries a second bifurcated link46. The levers 30 and links 34 and 46 form a toggle joint or togglelever means and the bifurcated link 40, at its upper ends, is pivotallyconnected through the stub shafts 42 to the flanged sleeve 44.

The flanged sleeve 44 is axially bored to receive the split tube 46which passes through the tube 8 and which carries thereon a secondsleeve 48, the bore of said sleeve being tapered at its lower end. Itwill also be noted that the bore of the flanged sleeve 44 is likewisetapered at its upper end. The sleeve 48 rides at its lower end within anaxial bore in the point housing I U, said axial bore in the pointhousing I commencing of' a diameter slightly larger than the lead 50 andexpanding in conical manner to the shoulder 52. The point housing I6 isthereabove provided with the constant diameter bore 54 up to the seat 56and the enlarged bore 58. The sleeve 48 slides in the bore 54, and acompression spring 59 is accommodated in the bore 58 which abuts againstthe seat 56 on the one hand and the flange 6I) on the sleeve 4 8 on theother. The flange 60 is of a size to be slidably received in the bore 62of the tube 8 which ends in the shoulder 64. The split tube 46 has anenlargement or flange 66 which slides within the increased bore 61 ofthe tube 8 and which abuts against the ange 68 of the sleeve 46, andwhich may abut against the shoulder 68 in the said tube 8.

It is, of course, apparent that the split tube 46 is adapted to receivethe lead piece 50 and a further lead piece 69. Several lead pieces ofdifferent lengths occasioned by possible breaking of the lead may abutagainst each other within the split tube 46 without interfering with theoperation of my pencil as will later be apparent. It should be notedthat at one end 'I0 of the split tube 46, and at the other end 12, thesplit of the said split tube is wider and I contemplate a secondsplitting at these portions, across from the first. This results in theends of the split tube having, as it were, four fingers which, as thesleeve 48 and the flanged sleeve 44 approach each other, facilitate thegripping of the lead and provide a clutch device.

As shown in part in Fig. 5, the flanged sleeve 44 is itself split orslotted at 'I4 up to the flange 88 and such slot is adapted to receivethe wing-s i6, a part of the split tube 46. The wings 'I6 as shown inFigure comprise diverging ears forming a part of and extendingtransversely of the split tube 46. The slot 14, which extends through 4the flange 'I8 up to the flange 80, permits the telescoping of the splittube 46 into the flanged sleeve 44 without interference caused by thesaid ears 76, the said ears 'I6 riding within the said slot 14, theirupward movement with relation to the flanged sleeve 44 and consequentlythe upward movement of the split tube 46 being limited by the flange 86which thus acts as a limiting stop. The flange 82 at the top of theflanged sleeve 44 is of an outside diameter suitable to slidably ridewithin the housing 2 and thus hold the feeding mechanism in alignment.The flange 82, which has a conically depressed top surface, likewiseprovides the base for the storage compartment 84 which contains theextra leads 86.

In showing the operation of my pencil, Figs. 2 and 6 are drawn with thefeeding mechanism in writing position. Thus, in Fig. 6, the leads 58 and69 are held rigidly in the split tube 45 by the action of the sleeve 48and the flanged sleeve 44 on the split tube fingers at the extremitiesI8 and l2 of the said split tube 46. The sleeve 48 is urged intocoaction with the fingered extremity l' by the compression spring 59which abuts against the seat 56 and the flange 66, thus causing thesplit tube 46 to grip the lead.

At the other extremity 72, the flanged sleeve 44 is urged to coact withthe said fingered extremity 'i2 by virtue of the lever action of thebifurcated link 46, the lever 36 and the bifurcated link 34, the saidbifurcated link 34 being pivotally mounted on the bushing 5 which isabutted against by the large compression spring I4. The largecompression spring I4, abutting against the flange I 2 of the pointhousing I6, urges the bushing 5 and the point housing Ill apart withrespect to each other. Since the said point housing I6 is threadablyconnected to the tube 8, the aforementioned lever action on the flangedsleeve 44 reverses this urging, urging the said flanged sleeve 44downwardly With respect to the point housing I8, While thecompression'spring 59 urges the sleeve 48 upwardly in relation to thepoint housing Ill. Thus, the sleeve 48 and the flanged sleeve 44 areresliently urged toward each other causing the clutching action whichgrips the leads 56 and 68.

It may perhaps be helpful in considering the above relationship ofelements to note that as both the compression springs 59 and I4 abutagainst the point housing I0, upon which the tube 8 containing the splittube 46 is threaded, and since the levering action, as stated, reversesthe action of the spring I4, the springs 59 and I4 may be considered incombination to force the Sleeve 48 and the flanged sleeve 44 toward eachother, thus, by virtue of the fingered extremities I0 and 'l2 of thesplit tube 46, gripping the lead. Of course the combination of thecompression spring I4 which abuts against the flange l2 of the pointhousing II) and the lever action heretofore mentioned which causes theflanged sleeve 44 to be urged downwardly in relationship to the saidpoint housing I0, said flanged sleeve 44 gripping, through the splittube 46, the lead 69, results in the lead 56 being held extended fromthe said point housing I6. This extension is limited by the shoulder 52.

The pressure exerted by the writer in using my pencil will thus opposethecompression spring I4, and since the compression spring 58 urges thesplit tube 46 upwardly in respect to the housing I6, the resultantpressure of the lead on the writing surface equals the difference of thecompression force exerted by the compression spring yI4 and the forceexerted by the compression spring 59. In this way my pencil is assuredof a 'positive gripping of the lead Idue to what might be called `adouble clutching action which cornbines the resilient strengths of thetwo springs I4 and 59, 'meanwhile gaining the advantage of a`resiliently-r'iding pencil point, which feature minimizes theinconvenience of broken lead points, gouged paper and the like.

Assuming now that the lead point 5U has been Worn down and that a newextension of the lead is desired, the pencil is merely pressed pointdown upon the writing or any other surface. The lead point 5U, which isgripped by the split tube 46, causes the said split tube to rise in thetube 8 against the compression spring I4, which acts through the flangedsleeve 44 and the lever system. In this movement the tube 48, of course,follows the flange 66 of the split tube 46 by virtue of the compressionspring 59.

In the pushing operation, when the point housing I8 comes against thewriting surface, the tube 8, being threaded to the point housing I0, ofcourse, moves upwardly with respect to the bushing 5 causing the leversystem to raise the flanged sleeve 44. Of course, since the said flangedsleeve 44 still grips the split tube 46, it too is caused to rise withrespect to the bushing 5, land by virtue of the lever arm relationship,the'said split tube 46 rises also in relationship to the tube 8.Meanwhile the sleeve 48 follows the flange 66 of the split tube 46. Whenthe sleeve 48, however, reaches the shoulder 64 of the tube 8, since itis still gripping the split tube 46, the rise of the said split tube 46with respect to the tube 8 is checked. Since the flanged sleeve 44 isrising with respect to the said tube 3 then, the said flanged sleeve 44moves upwardly with respect to the split tube 46, and the split tubelingers at the extremity 12 are released from their gripping action.

Further pressing of the pencil upon the writing surface displaces theflanged sleeve 44 further with respect to the split tube 46 andconsequently with respect to the wings 16, until the said wings 16 abutagainst the ilange 18. Following this abutment, the split tube I0 againmoves upwardly with the flanged sleeve 44 and, due to the lever armaction, in relationship to the tube 8. Since the sleeve 48 is checked bythe tube 8, the split tube 46 is thus pulled from the said sleeve 48,and the clutch is now completely released. Fig. 7 shows my pencil inthis position and as is apparent, the leads 58 and 69 are permitted todrop gravitationally until stopped by the writing surface.

Of course, it is possible that when the sleeve 48 reaches the shoulder64 of the tube 8, the flanged sleeve 44 will be gripping the split tube46 harder than is the said sleeve 48. If this is so, the split tube 46will continue to rise with respect to the tube 8, and the sleeve 48being checked, will withdraw from said sleeve 48. The split tube fingers18 are thus released from their gripping action about the lead 50.

`If this should happen, further pressing of the pencil upon the writingsurface and further rising of the flanged Sleeve 44 continues to liftthe split tubeV 46 with relation to the tube 8 until `the flange 66reaches the shoulder 68. When the flange 66 reaches the shoulder 66,rise of the split tube 46 with relation to the tube 8 is checked, andsince by virtue of the lever arm relationship the flanged sleeve 44moves upwardly with relation to the said tube, the llangedlsleevel 44must move upwardly with relation vto :the split tube 46. vThis causesthe split tube fingers 12 toAbe released from their gripping actionabout the 'lead 69 and causes the clutch to be completely released.

From the above, Vit will be seen that whether the sleeve 48 or theflanged sleeve 44 first releases the fingers 10 or 12, a completedeclutching from pressure of the pencil upon the writing surfaceresults'. Otherwise stated, declutching is positive, by virtue of eitherthe wings 16 or the shoulder 68, and pressure of the pencil upon thewriting surface must result in a complete releasing of the leads 50 and69 and an allowing of the said leads to drop gravitationally downwardsuntil stopped by the writing surface.

Pressure upon the pencil against the said writing surface is nowreleased. As the bushing 5, urged by the compression spring I4, movesupwardly with respect to the point housing I0 and the tube 8, the leversystem displaces the flanged sleeve 44 downwardly, removing the forceexerted on the wings 16 by the flange 18. Further downward movement ofthe said flanged sleeve 44 pulls the said flanged sleeve 44 over thesplit tube 46 to gripping position while forcing the split tube 46 intogripped position within the sleeve 48. This alignment of the elementshas been heretofore described and results from 'the fact that thecompression spring I4 and the cornpression spring 59 both abut againstthe point housing I8, the direction of force of the compression springI4 being reversedb'y the lever action to squeeze, in a manner ofspeaking, the split tube 46 between the sleeve 48 and the flanged sleeve44.

Now that the clutchlis in, the hanged sleeve 44 carries the split tube46 downwardly and, of course, the lead. The flange 66 abutting againstthe flange 60 of the sleeve 48 moves the said sleeve 48 downwardlyagainst the compression spring 59 until the said sleeve 48'rests in seat52. This movement is, y`of course, Vby virtue of the fact that thecompression spring I4 overpowers the compression 'spring 59. Thus, thelead point 56 which, in the last-mentioned movement, is gripped by thesplit tube 46 is extended from the point housing I0. Asis plain from theabove description and from Fig. 6, since the lead is positively gripped,and since the flange 66 of the split tube 46 abuts the flange 60 of thesleeve 48 which in the position shown in Fig. 1 abuts the shoulder 64 ofthe'tube 8, the length of lead point 5D which is extended from the pointhousing III will be v"equal in length to the distance shown in Fig. 6between the flange 60 and the shoulder 64.

As the lead point is intermittently worn down, and as new extensions ofthe said lead point occur in accordance with the preceding description,the height of the lead 69 will gradually diminish until below the top ofthe llange 82. When this occurs another lead 86 will drop in behind thelead 69 gradually taking its place in the downward progress through thefeeding mechanism until finally the lead 69 will have assumed theposition of the lead 58, and the lead 86 the position of the lead 69. ByVirtue of the deolutching arrangement of ymy pencil, these differentpieces of lead always abut each other within the feeding mechanism andform, in effect, a continuous length of lead. O-ne after another of thepieces of lead 86 inthe storage compartment 84 gravitationally feed intothe feeding mechanism, and` itisfthus unnecessary to take apart mylpencil fortli'e purpose of 'replenishing lead, except when the entiresupply within the storage compartment 84 has been exhausted.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; a bushing insaid housing rigid with respect to said housing; a second housingslidable within said rst housing; resilient means between said first andsaid second housings; a tube threaded in said second housing; said tubebeing slidable within said bushing; a lead receiving tube slidablewithin said nrst tube; lower clutch means adapted to releasably gripsaid lead, said clutch means comprising a lower sleeve slidable on saidlead receiving tube, said sleeve having a tapered bore, and nge 1scomprising the lower extremity of said lead receiving tube; upper clutchmeans adapted to releasably grip said lead, said clutch means comprisingan upper sleeve slidable on said lead receiving tube, said sleeve havinga tapered bore, and nngers comprising the upper extremity of said leadreceiving tube; and lever means associated with said bushing, said uppersleeve and said first tube and adapted to actuate said clutches into orout of gripping engagement with said lead, there being a springinterposed between said second housing and said lower sleeve.

2. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; lead feedingmechanism slidable within said housing, said lead feeding mechanismincluding a lead receiving tube, upper clutch means co-acting with saidlead receiving tube to cause said lead receiving tube to grip leadtherein, and lower clutch means co-acting with said lead receiving tubeto cause said lead receiving tube to grip lead therein; and a leversystem operatively connected with said upper clutch means and said lowerclutch means to actuate said upper and lower clutch means.

3. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; lead feedingmechanism slidable within said housing, said lead feeding mechanismincluding a lead receiving tube, and clutch means co-acting with saidlead receiving tube to cause said lead receiving tube to grip leadtherein or to allow said lead receiving tube to permit lead to slidefreely therethrough; spring means providing resilient relationshipbetween said housing and said feeding mechanism; and lever meansoperatively connecting said housing and said lead feeding mechanism,said lever means coacting with said spring means normally to encourageco-action between said clutch means and said lead receiving tube, saidlever means being adapted to release said lead receiving tube from saidclutch means when said housing is moved downwardly in relationship tosaid lead feeding' mechanism.

4:. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; a secondhousing slidable within said first housing; lead feeding means withinsaid rst and second housings, said feeding means including a leadreceiving tube, upper clutch means coacting with said lead receivingtube and lower clutch means co-acting with said lead receiving tube; aspring providing resilient relationship between said second housing andsaid iirst housing; a second spring providing resilient relationshipbetween said second housing and said lower Aclutch means; andalever-operatively connectl8 means, said two springs and said levernormally combining to urge said upperand said lower clutch means intoco-action with said lead receiving tube to cause the gripping thereby oflead therein,

5. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; a bushing insaid housing rigid with respect to said housing; a second housingslidable within said first housing; resilient means between said rst andsaid second housing; a tube threaded in said second housing, said tubebeing slidable within said bushing; a lead receiving tube slidablewithin said tube; lower clutch means adapted to releasably grip saidlead, said clutch means comprising a lower sleeve slidable on said leadreceiving tube, said sleeve having a tapered bore, and fingerscomprising the lower extremity of said lead receiving tube; upper clutchmeans adapted to releasably grip said lead, said clutch means comprisingan upper sleeve slidable on said lead receiving tube, said sleeve havinga tapered bore, and ngers comprising the upper extremity of said leadreceiving tube; a lever system comprising a bifurcated link pivotallyconnected with respect to said first housing, a lever pivotallyconnected to said rst tube and to said bifurcated link, a secondbifurcated link pivotally connected to said lever and pivotallyconnected to said upper sleeve; and a spring interposed between saidsecond housing and said lower sleeve.

6. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; lead feedingmechanism slidable within said housing, said lead feeding mechanismincluding a lead receiving tube, and upper clutch comprising an uppersleeve slidable on said lead receiving tube, said sleeve having atapered bore, and iingers comprising the upper extremity of said leadreceiving tube, and a lower clutch comprising a lower sleeve slidable onsaid lead receiving tube, said sleeve having aftapered bore and lingerscomprising the lower extremity of said lead receiving tube; and a leversystem operatively connecting said upper and lower clutches to causesaid clutches to grip said lead.

7. A device of the class described comprising: a housing; a lead feedingmechanism within said housing, said lead feeding mechanism including alead receiving tube, fingers at the upper eX- tremity of said leadreceiving tube, an upper sleeve slidable on said lead receiving tube andhaving a tapered bore, fingers at the lower extremity of said leadreceiving tube, and a lower sleeve slidable on said lead receiving tubeand having a tapered bore.

8. A mechanical pencil comprising, elongated housing, tube means mountedfor longitudinal reciprocation within said housing and having one endextendable from and retractible with respect to one end of said housingand being formed with a lead exit opening, a spring connected to thesaid housing and tube means and urging and normally positioning saidtube means end in extended position from said housing end, a lead tubeslidably carried by said tube means for relative longitudinal movementand in registration with said exit opening, said lead tube having anormal diameter permitting the free passage of lead therethrough andbeing compressible for gripping lead positioned therein, a clutch sleeveslidably mounted upon said lead tube and within said tube means andhaving a tapered bore wall engageable with said lead tube forcompression thereof upon movement of said lead tube to said wall, asecond spring normally urging said: leadi tube into engagementwith, saidwall; and means` connected; to said: housingand tube means and leadtube.. and actuated; upon movement, ofv said tube. means end: towardsaid housing against the. resistance. of said. -rstspring to displacesaid lead tubeaway fromsaid tapered wall to thereby permit passage.. oflleadv through said lead tube.

9, In a` pencil; ot' the. character described, an elongated pencil:housing, a tube. mounted: for reciprocation in said housing and having`a pointed end formed. with a lead discharge opening extendable from. andretractiblewith respect to one end of saidj housing, a lead tube-vslidably mounted within said first tube in registration with saidopening and having a normal diameter permitting the free.. passage ofvlead. therethrough and being compressible. for gripping lead therein, aclutch sleeve mountedwithinV said first tube. andY surrounding saidlead. tube and moveable relative thereto between positions respectivelycompressing and releasing saidtube, resilient means urging and normallypositioningA said first tube end in extendedposition from said housingand said clutch sleeve in compressing position on said tube, and meansactuated bycontraction of said first tube end relative to said housingand against the action of said resilient means to effect a relativedisplacement of said second tube and clutch, sleeve to released positionof said second tube therebypermitting the Passage i leed therethrough.-

10. In a pencil of the character described, an elongated pencil housing,a tube slidably mounted within said housing for longitudinalreciprocation and havingy a pointed lead,y supporting end extendablefrom and retractible with respect to one end of said housing, a leadtube slidably mounted within said rst tube and having a normal diameterpermitting the free passage of lead therethrough and being compressiblefor gripping lead therein, a clutch sleeve surrounding said second tube,said second tube being movable relative to said clutch sleeve topositions relatively compressing and releasing said second tube, springmeans urging and normally positioning said rst tube end in extendedposition from said housing end and said second tube in compressedposition within said sleeve, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends tosaid rst tube and having one end pivotally connected into said housingand its other end pivotally connected to said second tube andfunctioning upon displacement of said first tube end toward said housingend to eiect a movement of said second tube to released position withrespect to said sleeve thereby permitting the passage of leadtherethrough.

11. In a pencil of the character described, an elongated pencil housing,a tube slidably mounted within said housing for longitudinalreciprocation and having a pointed lead supporting end extendable fromand retractible with respect to one end of said housing, a springconnected between said housing and tube and urging the extension of saidtube end, a lead tube slidably mounted within said first tube and havinga normal diameter permitting the free passage of lead therethrough andbeing split for compression at an end adjacent to said first tube endfor gripping lead therein, a clutch sleeve having a tapered boreslidably mounted upon said second tube end and within said first tube,means limiting the relative longitudinal movement of said sleeve in saidrst tube, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said first tube andhaving one end pivotally connected to said housingv and; its other.-end: pivotally con. nected to said second tube and normally. urging saidsecond tube into compressed position` of said end thereof insaidsleeve,said lever being displaced by saidV first tube upon movement ofsaid rst tube end. toward said housing. end so as to Withdraw saidsecond tube end from the tapered bore of said sleeve to `thereby releasesaid second tube end for. expansion and passage of lead. therethrough.

12. In a pencil of the character described, an elongated pencil housing,a tube. slidably mounted within said housing for longitudinal.reciprocation and having a pointed lead. supporting end extendable fromand retractible with respect to one end of said. housing, a springconnected between said housing and tube andurging the extension of saidtube end, a lead tube! mounted for longitudinalmovement within said rsttube and having a normal diameter permitting the free. passage ofleadtherethrough, the. opposite ends of said second tubebeingcompressibleto grip lead therein, a pair ofv clutch sleeves mounted onthe opposite ends of said second tube and movable with respect theretobetween positions compressing andreleasing said second tube ends, alever pivotally. mounted intermediate its ends to said, rst tube, a linkpivotally securing. one. end of said lever toA said housing, a secondlink pivotal'ly securing the opposite end ofsaid leverto one of saidclutch sleeves, said last-named clutch sleeve having a limited lossmotion connection to. the adjacent end of said second'tube, the leverand link connection between said rst tube and said lastnamed clutchsleeve and said second tube being such as to normallyposition saidclutch sleeves in position of compression of the opposite ends of saidsecond tube, said lever being motivated by displacement of said rst tubeend toward said housing end to displace said clutch sleeves and secondtube ends to released position of said second tube ends therebypermitting the passage of lead therethrough.

13. In a pencil of the character described, an elongated pencil housinghaving an open lower end, a tube slidably mounted within said housingfor longitudinal reciprocation and having a pointed lower end extendablefrom and retractible with respect to said housing end, a springcorinected between said housing and tube and urging the extension ofsaid tube end, a lead tube slidably mounted within said rst tube andhaving a lower end adjacent the lower end of said rst tube and an upperend extending from the upper end of said rst tube, said second tubehaving a normal diameter permitting the free passage of leadtherethrough and being split at its upper and lower ends to permitcompression of said tube ends for gripping lead therein, clutch sleeveshaving tapered bores mounted on the upper and lower ends of said secondtube and having first positions thereon compressing said 4second tubeends and second positions thereon releasing said ends to permit passageof lead therethrough, and a lever pivoted to said first tube andoperatively connected to said housing and said second tube and sleevesto position the latter in said rst position in the normal extendedposition of said first tube end and being actuated upon displacement ofsaid first tube end toward said housing end to displace said sleeves andsecond tube to said second position releasing said second tube ends forpassage of lead therethrough.

14. A lead feeding unit for mechanical pencils including a pair of leadgripping clutches mounted spaced apart in longitudinal relation to eachother, toggle lever means connecting said clutches, said lever means4being pivoted between its ends whereby when pressure is exerted againstthe writing end of said unit said clutches are released to permit awriting lead to slide freely in said clutches and when the pressure isreleased the writing lead is automatically ejected out of the writingend a predetermined degree and said clutch unit grips the lead firmly inwriting position.

15, In a mechanical pencil including a lead reservoir for a supply ofwriting leads, a lead feeding unit mounted in the forward end of saidpencil below said lead reservoir, said unit including a pair oflongitudinally spaced lead gripping clutches through which the writinglead slides from said reservoir, a pair of toggle levers interposedbetween and pivotally connected to said pair of clutches and springmeans normally spacing said pair of clutches toward each other andadapted to permit the writing end of said unit to be de` pressed intothe barrel of said pencil and to vsimultaneously release said clutchesto permit a writing lead to slide freely from said reservoir into saidclutch unit, said clutch unit being adapted to grip the lead fed into itand eject the same a predetermined degree out of the writing end of saidunit when pressure is released on the writing end of said clutch unit. i

16. In a mechanical p'encil comprising a lead reservoir, an automaticlead feeding clutch unit, means in said unit for receiving a writinglead from said reservoir and ejecting the same a predetermined degree ata time by pressure against the writing end of said pencil and unit andincluding said lead feeding unit including a pair of longitudinallyspaced apart clutch means which reciprocate to receive and eject thewriting lead, toggle lever means connecting said clutch means of saidunit to cause said clutch means to operate in unison when pressure isexerted against the writing lead to release the same and toautomatically grip the lead and force it into writing position a degreeat a time when pressure at the writing end is released and spring meansfor normally holding said clutch means toward each other.,

17. In a mechanical pencil including a lead reservoir for eXtra writingleads, a clutch feeding unit having a writing end projecting from thebarrel of said pencil, said unit including longitudinally spaced meansfor gripping and releasing a writing lead by the action of clutch means,Ispring means for normally holding said clutch means in grippingposition and lever means connecting said clutch means in a manner tocause the same to operate in unison and be released from gripping thelead when pressure is exerted against the writing end of said pencil andto grip the lead and hold it in projecting writing position lwhenpressure on the Writing end of the pencil is released.

JESSE J. RO-BBINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,956,143 Robbins Sept. 29, 19362,078,433 Winter Apr. 27, 1937

